Mortar joint gauge



May 11, 1954 K. H. TENGSTEDT 2,677,958

MORTAR JOINT GAUGE Filed May 27, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 How Fig.2

k Karl HI Tengsredr IN V EN TOR.

K. H- TENGSTEDT MORTAR JOINT GAUGE May 11, 1954 Filed May 2'7, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY mi-3' Patented May 11, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE Claims. 1

This invention relates to a mortar joint gauge and particularly to a gauging device for applying a predetermined thickness of mortar to the end of a masonry item.

In the construction of joints between masonry items such as glass blocks or other regular formations it is desirable to maintain an even thickness of joints between all of the blocks in order to maintain the esthetic nature of the walls.

Considerable difiiculty has been experienced in applying an even tenalcious coating of mortar to the ends of such masonry items. The joint mortar may be tenaciously applied to the end of an item such as a glass block by means of a trowel which has a wiping action to wipe the mortar from the trowel onto the block. However, it is substantially impossible to produce constant even thickness of joints by such methods. It has also been proposed to provide a frame arrangement enclosing the end of the block and having a guide surface for producing an even thickness of mortar supplied to the end of the block. However, such devices have been unsatisfactory in that the removal of the frame results in pulling and pushing of the mortar away from the block as the trowel has caused the mortar to adhere more tenaciously to the frame than to the block.

The present invention provides a gauging device having a wiping action so that the mortar is tenaciously applied to the block while at the same time the gauge is removed out of contact with the mortar so that the even distribution of mortar over the face of the block is undisturbed and a joint of even thickness is produced.

An even joint is accomplished by means of a gauge device having post tape gauges at each side of the block which are rotatably mounted so that they move in such a manner as to wipe the mortar on to the block while moving out of engagement therewith. Wiper blades are secured to and are movable with the posts so that they move in conjunction to opposed surfaces of the block to wipe the mortar from the gauges on to the block while moving thereover in substantially the same manner as the trowel wipes the mortar from the trowel on to the block to produce an adhesive even layer of mortar thereon.

It is an object of the invention to provide a mortar joint gauge.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mortar joint gauge which leaves the mortar firmly adhering to the masonry item.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mortar joint gauge movable to procure a wiping motion between the gauge and the mortar.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mortar joint gauge which will lock in position so that it can be filled with mortar without moving to disturb the thickness thereof.

Other objects and many of the attendant ad- I vantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of the mortar joint gauge;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the gauge;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the gauge;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the actuating mechanism taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line '|-'l of Figure 2; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 88 of Figure 2.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a base plate It is mounted on a rectangular frame l2 having a closure plate I4 applied. thereto. A pair of longitudinal block supporting members l6 and 18 are mounted on the base plate 9 for supporting a masonry item such as a glass block in properly spaced relation to the plate It.

A side guide in the form of an angle member 22 is adjustably connected to the plate It by means of suitable devices such as cap screws 2:3. The guide member 22 being provided with slots 25 for permitting the parallel adjustment of the guide member 22.

The base plate to is provided adjacent the forward end thereof with a pair of elongated slots 28 and 39 for receiving bearing housings 32 and 34. The bearing housings 32 and 34 are firmly connected to adjusting plates 36 and 38 by screws 31 and 39, the plates 36 and 38 being adjustably mounted on the plate [0 by means of adjusting screws 40 and 42 so that the plates 36 and 3% may be adjusted away from or toward each other as may be desired.

A bearing 44 having a supporting collar 46 is mounted in the bearing housing 32 and has a projecting portion 48 on which is fixed a lever arm 50 secured in position by means of a washer 52 and a lock nut 54, the lever 50 being rigidly connected to the bearing 44 so as to be rotatable therewith. A substantially cylindrical gauge post 56 extends into an aperture 51 in the bearing 44 and has an offset portion 58 providing a flat gauge surface 60. A lower gauge blade 62 is rigidly connected to the gauge post 56 and is rigidly clamped to the bearing 44 by means of a cap screw 64 so that the post and blade rotate with the bearing 44.

A slot 66 is provided for engaging the cap screw 66 where the angular relation between the bearing 4 and the post 56 may be adjusted as desired. A cap gauge blade 68 i rigidly secured at the top of the post 56 by any suitable means such as welding or a screw '50. The bearing housing 34 is similarly provided with bearings and connections to the post 14 which has a lower blade 76 and an upper blade 18. The post 14 and blades 16 and '18 are identical with the previously described post 56 and blades 62 and 68 except that they are oppositely disposed. The blades 52 and 68 have front gauge edges 36 which are coplanar with the edge 88 so that a trowel may be operatively engaged along the edges 80 and B0. The posts 56 and M are so adjusted with relation to the bearing members that the gauge members 62 and 16 and 68 and 18 are in a single plane so that a trowel may readily pass over the entire surface. A mor tar shield 82 is applied over the forward edges of the adjusting plate 36 and 38 and connected to the frame l2 by means of the adjusting screws 42 and 86. The shield 82 having an edge contacting the gauge edges of the lower members 64 and i6 lying in substantially mortar-tight relation therewith when the blades 64 and 16 are in engaging relation. An operating lever 88 is operatively connected to the post M and the legs and 88 extend at substantially right angles to the gauge edges of the blades 62 and I6 and are locked in that position by mean presently to be described.

Depending brackets 90 and 92 are secured on the base plate In and are provided with apertures for receiving the stem member 94 of a T-shaped member 96. The T-shaped member 96 is connected to the levers 50 and 88 by means of links 93 and H30. to the T-stem 94 and extends through a slot H14 in the frame i2. T-shaped member 96 is urged into forward relation by means of a spring [06 connected to an adjusting screw I08 within the frame i2. When the T-member 95 is in forward position the links 98 and H together with the T-member 96 form a straight rigid bar so that application of pressure to the gauge blades 62, I5 and and 78 will press against the solid locked arrangement so that there is no bending or flexing thereof under the pressure of a trowel. In the operation of the device a masonry item such as a glas block H0 is mounted on the supports l6 and it with one longitudinal side edge adjacent the guide member 22 and the posts 56 and M are adjusted so that the protruding portions 58 contact the vertical corners of the block with the blades 68 and T8 in contact with the top of the block and the blades 54 and 16 in contact with the bottom surface of the block. The gauge members 55, 58, 62, I6, 68 and 18 provide a rectangular frame which closely engages the end of the glass block and by means of the surfaces 60 and 80 provide a gauge frame longitudinally spaced from Operating handle I62 is connected the end of the block. The rods and the blades forming the frame being in tight engaging relation with the top, bottom and side faces of the block. Mortar is applied to the interior of the frame by means of the usual masons trowel and the mortar troweled smooth and level with the outer edges of the gauge frame by allowing the trowel blade to travel along the guide surfaces on the blades and on the rotating posts. This causes the mortar to adhere to the end of the block and also to the portion of the blades and the rods forming the gauge frame. To prevent the mortar being disturbed or pulled away from the block when the block is removed from the gauge frame, the posts 56 and 14 are rotated by actuating the handle I02 to operate the toggle arrangement so that the blades 62, 68, 16 and 18 move inwardly over the top and bottom of the block whereby the mortar adhering to the blades in wiped off on the edge of the block to provide a clean square application of mortar to the block and to remove the blades from the vicinity of the mortar. Likewise, the rotation of the posts 56 and 14 causes the cam surfaces 58 to wipe the vertical edges of the end of the block whereby the mortar adhering to the surfaces 58 is wiped off on the edge of the block. This operation leaves the mortar in clean, sharp formation on the end of the block and in disconnected relation to the gauge frame.

It will be apparent that the present invention provides a gauge device for properly applying an adhesive mortar to the end of a masonry item and properly cementing it thereto.

For purposes of exemplification a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described according to the best present understanc ing thereof. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that change and modifications can be made therein without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A mortar joint gauge comprising a base, a longitudinal guide on said base, a pair of posts journaled on said base, spaced apart gauge blades fixed on each of said posts, a flat gauge surface on said posts, gauge edges on each of said blades coplanar with said gauge surfaces, resilient means rotatably urging the gauge edges of said blades and the gauge surfaces of said posts into a common gauge plane and means operative to rotate said posts to move said gauge surfaces and gauge edges out of said common gauge plane.

2. A mortar joint gauge, comprising a base, supporting surfaces on said base, said supporting surfaces supporting a masonry item in predetermined relation to said base, a side guide aligning said item on said supports, a pair of gauge posts journaled on said base, said gauge posts being spaced to contact the opposed vertical corners of said item, spaced apart gauge blades on each of said posts, said gauge posts and said gauge plates being rotatable into and out of coplanar relationship, said blades snugly receiving opposed faces of said item.

3. A mortar joint gauge, comprising a base, supporting surfaces on said base, said supporting surface being adapted to support a masonry item in predetermined relation to said base, a side guide aligning said item on said supports, a pair of gauge posts journaled on said base, said gauge posts being spaced to contact the opposed corners of said item, spaced apart gauge blade on each of said posts, said blades snugly receiving opposed faces of said item, said posts being substantially cylindrical, a flat face on one side of said posts, gauge edges on said blades, the gauge edges of the blades attached to a post being substantially coplanar with said fiat face.

4. A mortar joint gauge, comprising a base, supporting surfaces on said base, said supporting surfaces being adapted to support a masonry item in predetermined relation to said base, a side guide aligning said item on said supports, a pair of gauge posts journaled on said base, said gauge posts being spaced to contact the opposed corners of said item, spaced apart gauge blades on each of said posts, said blades snugly receiving opposed faces of said item, said posts being substantially cylindrical, a flat face on one side of said posts, gauge edges on said blades, the gauge edges of the blades attached to a IJOS'G being substantially coplanar with said flat face, resilient means yieldingly urging said gauge edges on both of said posts into a common plane.

5. A mortar joint gauge, comprising a base, supporting surfaces on said base, said supporting surfaces being adapted to support a masonry item in predetermined relation to said base, a side guide aligning said item on said supports, a pair of gauge posts journaled on said base, said gauge posts being spaced to contact the opposed corners of said item, spaced apart gauge blades on each of said posts, said blades snugly receiving opposed faces of said item, said posts being substantially cylindrical, a flat face on one side of said posts, gauge edges on said blades, the gauge edges of the blades attached to a post being substantially coplanar with said flat face, resilient means yieldingly urging said gauge edges on both of said posts into a common plane, a toggle connection between said posts for locking said post with said gauge edges in said common plane.

6. A mortar joint gauge, comprising a base, supporting surfaces on said base, said supporting surfaces being adapted to support a masonry item in predetermined relation to said base, a side guide aligning said item on said supports, a pair of gauge posts journaled on said base, said gauge posts being spaced to contact the opposed corners of said item, spaced apart gauge blades on each of said posts, said blades snugly receiving opposed faces on said item, said posts being substantially cylindrical, a flat face on one side of said posts, gauge edges on said blades, the gauge edges of the blades attached to a post being substantially coplanar with said fiat face, resilient means yieldingly urging said gauge edges on both of said posts into a common plane, a toggle connection between said posts for locking said post with said gauge edges in said common plane, said toggle including a "reshaped member, an actuating member operatively connected to said T-shaped member for actuating said toggle to rotate said posts.

7. A mortar applicator for glass blocks comprising a support for said block, a guide on said support, a pair of posts rotatably mounted on said support, said posts including a gauge surface, said posts being spaced apart a distance to engage opposed edges of said block, gauge blades fixed on said posts, said gauge blades being spaced apart a distance to engage opposed faces of said block, said posts being rotatable to move said gauge surfaces and said gauge blades into and out of coplanar relationship.

8. A mortar applicator for glass blocks comprising a support for said block, a guide on said support, a pair of posts rotatably mounted on said support, said posts including a gauge surface, said posts being spaced apart a distance to engage opposed edges of said block, gauge blades fixed on said pests, said gauge blades being spaced apart a distance to snugly engage opposed faces of said block, an actuating arm fixed on each of said posts, a T-shaped central member, links between said actuating arms and said T-shaped central member, resilient means urging said central member and said links into alignment whereby said gauge surfaces and said gauge blades are brought into coplanar alignment.

9. A mortar applicator for glass blocks comprising a support for said block, a guide on said support, a pair of posts rotatably mounted on said support, said posts including a gauge surface, said posts being spaced apart a distance to engage 0pposed edges of said block, gauge blades fixed on said posts, said gauge blades being spaced apart to engage opposed faces of said block, an actuating arm fixed on each of said posts, a T-shaped central member, links between said actuating arms and said T-shaped central member, resilient means urging said central member and said links into alignment whereby said gauge surface and said gauge blades are brought into coplanar arrangement, an actuating member secured to said central member, said actuating member being operable to move said central member and cause rotation of said posts to move said gauge surfaces and said blades out of coplanar arrangement.

10. A mortar joint applicator and gauge comprising a base member, a pair of longitudinally extending supports on said base, a side guide adjustable with respect to said supports, a pair of parallel posts rotatably mounted in said base, said posts being adjustably spaced apart in a direction transverse to said side guide, a pair of gauge blades on each of said posts, said blades being spaced apart, operating levers secured to each of said posts, said levers extending perpendicular to said gauge blades, bearing brackets mounted in said base, a T-shaped member reciprocably mounted in said brackets, links operatively connected between said T-member and said levers, an actuating member operatively connected to said T- member for rotating said posts, and resilient means urging said T-member into position to lock said posts against rotary movement, said gauge blades and said posts being in coplanar alignment when said posts are in locked position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 823,593 Fisher June 19, 1906 2,551,911 Tengstedt et al. May 8, 1951 

